NIBONG TEBAL, June 17 – The Home Ministry is working out ways to reduce the number of foreign detainees in prisons, including by prisoner exchanges, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (photo) said today.
He noted that 29.4 percent of the 39,144 prisoners nationwide were foreigners and the cost of funding them at RM35.00 daily could be better used for citizens.
“The government’s daily cost for keeping them in prison is about RM35.00 per person and this is a big amount,” he told reporters after the Penang Yang DiPertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abas opened the Seberang Perai Prison, here today.
He added that most of the foreign detainees’ offences were overstaying or not having valid work permits.
Prisoner exchange discussions with Thailand were at the final stage and would later be expanded to Indonesia, he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said a large percentage of local convicts were in prison for drug offences.
He urged all parties concerned, including government agencies, non-government organisations and local communities to work together for the prevention and rehabilitation of drug offenders.
“The Prison Department’s KPI (Key Performance Index) for reducing the rate of recidivism is to maintain it at below 10 percent,” he said.
As of June this year, the Department has achieved a KPI of 7.97, he said.
– BERNAMA
